Convertible bench.



0. F. MALMBERG.

CONVERTIBLE BENCH.

AAPPLICATIDN min APR. 24, |913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET! Wz'izze ases:

THE MORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTG-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D, C,

O. FPMALMBERG.

CONVERTIBLE BENCH.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 24. |913.

Patented 11113118, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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wyBM/b THE NORRIS PETERS co., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C4

OSCAR F. MLIVIBERG, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application led Apri124, 1913. Serial No. 763,273.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR F. MALMBERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, countyv of Cook, and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Benches, of which the following is a specification. p

My invention relates to convertible benches and more particularly to vbenches adapted to be converted into beds or couches.

The object of this improvement is to provide a bench having foldable side rails and which is adapted to be extended and formed into a bed or couch.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed. Y

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view ofk a bench embodying my invention and having its seat,

or lid opened up to expose the folded portions, Fig. V2 is an enlarged central section of the same showing the lid or seat portion closed, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view of one corner portion of the same, Fig. 4L is a plan view of the device in .extended condition, Fig. 5 is a central section of the same, andy Fig. 6 'is an enlarged fragmental section of a corner portion of the device.

The Aframe of the device comprises a pair of end members and a pair of foldable sides connecting the same and the whole supported upon corner posts or legs.

Referring to the drawings 88 indicate the transverse end members of the frame to each of which is rigidly secured a pair of legs 7. Each end member 8 together with the respective legs 7 thus forms a rigid end member. Rigidly secured to each end mem? the same plane, and with the lower edges ofl the samepreferably in a common plane. Pivotally secured to the undery edges of the members 8, preferably adjacent the ends thereof, are bars 2O terminating in hooks adapted to engage pins on the under edges of the opposite members 8 to lock the frame in closed position.

Hingedly connected to one ofthe members 8 as by hinges 32 is a seat portion 31 which rests upon the upper edges of the members 8 and 9 when the device is in position to be used as a bench. A stop member 33 preferably comprising a pair of hingedly connected links constitutes means to limit the outward swing of the member 31. The

portion 31 when swung outwardly consti- Y tutes a pillow rest when the device is used Aas a couch.

rlg-he free ends of the sections 9 are rabbeted as at 9 forming tongues or stops 9, the purpose o f which will appear hereinafter. Hingedlyy connected to the rabbeted portions of the sections 9 are a pair of hingedly connected 'side rail sections 10-10, vthe opposite -ends of which are hingedly connected to the opposite end members 8. The hinges 11 which connect the sections 10 to the sections 9, the mem` bers 8 and to each other are so arranged'asV to allow said sections to fold inwardly when the device is collapsed; and the stops l9" constitute means for limiting the outward swing of the sections 10 and maintain them in alinement when the device is extended for use as a couch. latches 12 are pivotally connected as at 13 to one of the sections 10 of each rail to span the abutting ends of the said section to lock the same in alinement. The sections 10 are of less depth than that of the sections 9 and have their upper edges arranged-in a plane below the upper edges of the sections 9, and their lower edges in a plane above that of thel lower k,edges of the sections 9 for reasons whichy will appear hereinafter.

Pivotally secured to the under edge of one of the sections 10 upon each side of the de- A vice are bars 15 which are swung inwardly when the device is extended Yand the free ends of said bars are provided with interlocking portions to hold the same in alinement andV to relieve the strain in the catches 12 to prevent collapsing of the side rails when the device is in use as a couch. Preferably the ends of one of said bars is provided with a threaded stud. or pin and the legs.

Pivotally secured to the upper edge of'one l of the sections -of each side rail is a hook or catch 18 adapted to engage pins 19 on the f adjacent section 10 when thedevice is in folded or collapsed condition. s The catches 18 are arranged adjacent the ends that are hingedly connectedjto the sections 9Vfand members 8 and thereby constitute additional means for holding the frame in rigid position when folded for use as a bench. lThe catches 18 and bars 2O thereby constitute means for rigidly securing the device in folded position to prevent spreading of the By having the upper and lower edges of the members 10 in the relative positions above ,described relativev to the corresponding edgesof the sections 9 the catches 18 and bars are invisible when the device is folded and will'not interfere with the proper operation v of the portion 81. It should be noted that thesections 10 are substantially Y coextensive in f length so that when theV device is folded they lie'parallel to each other and to the end members 8; and

also that the length of the stops 9 vis greater than the combined 'thicknesses of the sections 10y when folded'so that saidV sections will not interfere'with the ends of said stops,l which constitute the ends of thesec- "tions 9, from snugly engaging the end ineinbers. Y Y

YThe flexible material 21 preferably a suit-` able fabric is securedto one of theend rails 8 byrineans of a bar 22 at one of its ends.

`The other of its ends isrlooped and a' bar 23 secured therein. Thefends of the bar 23 yareprovidedwith armsV 24 pivoted as at 2,5 in a manner so that said arms2 may be moved from the full line to the dotted which are adaptedto engage within sockets Y V27. Stops28 are'providedon the side rails in, positions to support the ends ofbar 23 when the device is opened out to bed form,

asV willlbe readily Vunderstood froml (Figs.

esami 6. Y

. '.'Ears 29 aresecured to the fabric 2l along its edges and buttons 30 are provided along the sides of the'side rails 9 to engage the ears 29 to stretch the fabric taut transversely e and towprevent the sagging of said fabric when a heavy person .or other weight is supported thereby;

Iny .,peration, the ldevice is foldedy swinging Athe members V10 onthe hinges 11 the appended claimsw The free ends to Subatnuaiiy' the positions intucatefiV in Fig. 1. The catcheslS are locked on their cooperating pins 19 to Alock'the top portionsY of the sides and locking bars 2O are locked to locky the bottom portions of 'the sides `to facilitate rigidity of the construction when the device is folded in conditionfor use as a bench. Then the device is extended for use as a bed the fabric 21 is unrolled and the pins 26 of arms 24 areengaged inthe sockets 27 and the bar l23y is pressed downwardly until it rests on the stops 28,y the latter being below a plane extended from thetopof bar 22 and through bar 23, to stretch .fabric 21 longitudinally of thedevice. The ears V29 are engagedon theV buttons 30 to hold the fabric taut laterally. The spacing bars 15 are locked in the positions indicated in Fig. 4: to further facilitate rigidity of the construction when the device is used as a bed. l f

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my inventioninto effect, this is capable ofV variation and modification without depart ing from the spirit lof the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limitedv to the precise details of construction set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of Having V describedV my invention Y I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: I'

rail comprising three pivotally .connected thek Akind described, the

ibo

sections, one section of each rail being rigidly connected to the adjacent end por-y tion ,a catch at the pivotal point between two of the sectionsin each side portion lock-1 ing such members in alining relation; and

an extension on one vmember in Veach side i' portionextending beyond the pivotal pointl of such member and its next adjacent'member .and engaging one side of the latter', subl stantially as: described. Y 'f l2. In Va device of the class described, a Y

pairf of transverse end members each pro.- vided with a pairjof legs, a side rail section rigidly-connected to each of said end members and upon opposite sides'of the device,

V a pair of hingedlyfconnected side rail sections! hingedly connected at one end to the respective first mentioned sections and-at the lower edges ofthe-end members adapted iso to connect the same when the device is in folded position, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of transverse end members each provided with a pair of legs, a side rail section rigidly connected to each of said end members and upon opposite sides of the device, with its upper and lower edges in the same plane with the upper and lower edges of said end members respectively, a pair of hingedly connected side rail sections hingedly connected at one end to the respective first mentioned sections and at the other end to the opposite end members, with their upper edges in a plane below that of the upper edges of the rst mentioned sections and their lower edges in a plane above the lower edges of said first mentioned sections, the hinges being arranged to permit Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the said sections to fold inwardly, catches adapted to rigidly connect the upper edgesV of the last mentioned sections and points adjacent the ends connected to said rst mentioned sections and points adjacent said end members respectively, pivotally mounted bars on the lower edges of the end members adapted to connect the same when the device is in folded position, anda seat portion hingedly connected to one of said end members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR F. MALMBERG.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. PoT'rs, HELEN F. LILLIs.V

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

